The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series

Hotel · Prahran

The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series

Hotel · Prahran

3

164 Commercial Rd, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

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The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null
The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series by null

Highlights

Hip hotel with art, bistro, dumpling bar & gym.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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164 Commercial Rd, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia Get directions

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164 Commercial Rd, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia Get directions

+61 3 9098 1555
all.accor.com

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Last updated

Aug 20, 2025

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@cntraveler

The Cullen - Hotel Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"First impressions? The late, great artist Adam Cullen courted controversy and wasn't afraid to splash bold colors. Fitting, then, that the Art Series hotel named in his honor is one of the funkiest in the collection. It's located in cosmopolitan Prahran, about 20 minutes from the city centre. What’s the crowd like? Art aficionados; bohemians who could have stepped out of a Cullen canvas. How are the rooms? Black carpets and white walls in the guest rooms put the focus squarely on the arresting Cullen wall prints, while large mirrors create a sense of spaciousness. All rooms include kitchenettes—useful if you're planning to visit Prahran Market across the road. How about the little things? Rooms either have windows that open or balconies—rarities in Melbourne. Like all Art Series hotels, the Wi-Fi here is fast and free. Room service and food: Worth it? At street level, Gramercy Social and HuTong Dumpling Bar offer upscale diner food and mod-Chinese, respectively, but neither offers room service. Breakfast at Gramercy Social runs until 3 p.m. on weekends. What about the immediate neighborhood. The Cullen is not Melbourne's most centrally located hotel, but you can hire multiple forms of transportation on site, including Lekker bicycles, eco cars, and even prams. Bottom line. Mind-boggling art, two fun restaurants, and an un-touristy location give The Cullen an undeniable cool factor." - Dan F. Stapleton

https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/australia/australia/melbourne/the-cullen
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@cntraveler

15 Best Hotels in Melbourne | Condé Nast Traveler

"The late, great artist Adam Cullen courted controversy and wasn't afraid to splash bold colors. Fitting, then, that the Art Series hotel named in his honor is one of the funkiest in the collection. It's located in cosmopolitan Prahran, about 20 minutes from the city center. Black carpets and white walls in the guest rooms put the focus squarely on the arresting Cullen wall prints, while large mirrors create a sense of spaciousness. All rooms include kitchenettes—useful if you're planning to visit Prahran Market across the road. Mind-boggling art, two fun restaurants, and an un-touristy location give The Cullen an undeniable cool factor." - Dan F. Stapleton

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-hotels-in-melbourne
View Postcard for The Cullen Melbourne - Art Series
@cntraveler

The Best Travel Tips of 2018, From People Who Do it For a Living

"Don't overlook the minibar"You should always judge a hotel by its minibar. I love when they go big on local candies and stuff besides booze. In Melbourne, I stayed at The Cullen, which has a focus on art, and they had canvases, a paint set, and brushes, which I brought home for my kids."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-best-travel-tips-of-2018-from-people-who-do-it-for-a-living
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Rajesh Chinnachamy

Google
Fuss free stay. Neat room. Being rated a 5 star hotel, I expected in house breakfast and dining to be available but there was none. I would have opted for another property if I had known. I also expect some extra effort or welcome for ALL Gold members/loyal patrons.

Lysette Ashford

Google
Perfect location with easy, secure parking on site. The reception staff were lovely and helpful upon arrival and made sure we had a quiet room as requested and made me aware of a couple of bonuses they offered (late checkout etc.) The room was nicely laid out with all the things one would expect in a good hotel: lighting options (table lamps), good toiletries and a great shower with water pressure! A window that can be opened!(so rare) good window treatment so the room can be made really dark, neat kitchenette setup, lots of clothes hanging space. SUPER comfortable bed. All round great experience and we will definitely be returning.

Robyn Bayliss

Google
A huge thank you to the staff for fixing the issue of one bed for parents and their 17 year old daughter and moving us into a two bed room with no fuss. For accommodating my disability parking on our third and final night. The staff are wonderful. Location is great, would like a little more privacy in the bathroom but we got by. Vibrant area and would absolutely stay again if returning to the area. Thank you for all your help and consideration.

MB20

Google
The Cullen was a pleasant surprise! A friend and I stayed in a twin room for one night, as we were headed to a show at The Palais in St Kilda and wanted to be close by. |The hotel has a trendy vibe with modern artwork, sculptures. and decor. |The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the local area, providing advice on food, transport, shopping etc. |The room was spacious and had two generous sized beds which were extremely comfortable. There was a couch, small dining table, chairs and another seating area. |The room also had a small kitchenette which would be great for longer stays, especially as the local market is directly across the road with amazing fresh produce and delicacies. |There was an opening window, which is always a bonus in my opinion, however it is a very busy and noisy road so if you are a light sleeper you would probably prefer this closer at night time. |The bathroom was well appointed although a little see-through into the room as only partitioned by frosted glass. |Parking was also onsite and reasonably priced.|Finally, one of the best features is that it was one of the cleanest hotels I have ever stayed in! |I will definitely stay again 😊

SANDRA KNEEBONE

Google
Couldn't fault anything. Spacious rooms with kitchen & dining area. Appelles toiletries. The most comfortable beds / bedding....I wanted to take the pillows. Pod coffee machine and soo incredibly reasonably priced. Very friendly helpful staff and room serviced daily. WELL DONE

Kylie Nowers

Google
Thank you, Youjin and Ellen, for the outstanding service you provided during my stay. My room was exceptionally clean and tidy, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. This is a truly beautiful hotel that exemplifies excellent hospitality. I look forward to returning and staying here again in the future.

Greg Wilson

Google
Check in/out was great. Room was perfect for what I was after. Maybe a choice of pillow would be good as mine were super soft which I don't like, but that's just me.

Rajat Kapoor

Google
Stayed there for 4D/3N the hotel is located at one of the most happening areas. Everything is nearby, the check-in experience was smooth. Staff was very professional and friendly. Rooms were big and in pristine condition. The bathroom though needed a little bit more privacy by adding sliding curtains, etc. Overall a great experience will definitely recommend others as well.

Andy G.

Yelp
I've really tried to like this hotel. I've stayed here twice now in the last few months. My first stay was for 10 days. This current stay is only for 4 nights. During my first stay, I ended up booking what was sold as a two bedroom room. It turned out to be a room that was just divided by curtains. It was also a a room facing commercial Rd which also happens to be the home to a thumping night club that went all night for numerous nights. I couldn't sleep! I was told there was nothing they could do for me and they couldn't give me an alternative room. Suck it up buttercup! On this stay I checked in on a Saturday and immediately reported that my TV doesn't work. Nothing was done to fix it. Tonight (Monday) I wanted to watch the final day of the ashes cricket. I got to my room hoping they'd finally fixed my tv. Nope, they couldn't give a sh1t it seems. I had to go down to reception to plead for them to fix it, because the phone system doesn't work either. Rose on reception basically said, Yeah...... I know, other people have complained as well. I said ok, but fix it. Rose said, nah, theirs nothing I can do, not my responsibility. That's it! Nada, who cares, it's done, thanks for staying. This place is just poorly run. Don't stay here! Spend your money somewhere that they care and deserve your hard earned.
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Evan G.

Yelp
The hotel is clean, not too loud and has good service. However, if you're a tourist (I am), it's not super convenient for the best sites, the art is kind of over the top and challenging/off putting, if you're staying in a room with another person, it's weird that the wall to the bathroom is glass and the fan is too quiet to cover noises, there seemed to be a spring pushing up in the bed, the TV is difficult to change from the documentary about the hotel artist and I didn't see any USB plugs. It's fine as a hotel, but I wouldn't point anyone toward it. Assuming you do stay here anyway, the market across the street is pretty cool and has a wide variety of shops, as well as great coffee. Just be sure to check market hours before you plan to go as they are not always open. If you are willing to figure out public transit, there is transportation fairly close by that will get you downtown. If you want to stay in the area, there's some art shops to the south (again, check when they're open) and a string of funky bars and restaurants a few blocks away. The problem we had with this area was it seemed like a pretty generic city neighborhood.
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Damian A.

Yelp
Outstanding hotel in an outstanding area. From the moment you walk in this hotel grabs your attention with its art and decor. It's modern funky interior continues into their rooms. I was lucky enough to get a room upgrade to a large suite. The room is self contained including fridge, hot plate and convection microwave. There are also 2 supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) within a couple of minutes walk and markets too. Great little welcoming touches like s hand written note and a little bag of lollies! There is room service from the bistro attached to the hotel but there is also an amazing array of cafes etc around the hotel. This is definitely a must stay and my new favourite spot to stay!!
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Jonathan C.

Yelp
We stayed here for a few nights in the lead up to Christmas. Our room had our own Kitchenette which is great with the market opposite. The staff were great and really helpful/ knowledgable. We had a car with us and parked underneath the hotel. The artwork in the rooms are a bit out there and may not be suitable for kids (we didn't have any, but can imagine).
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Brad P.

Yelp
Took my partner here for a birthday weekend and we loved our stay. It's an ultra modern boutique hotel with all comforts of a well appointed home. We stayed in room 511, a studio room. The bed was amazing and the shower was fantastic. Great water pressure with a detachable head that was so luxurious. We had drinks in the Gramercy Social that were hand crafted and delicious. Loved the location directly across the street from the Prahran Market. Was just a short walk from the Prahran train station and surrounded by great shopping and quaint cafes. The staff was friendly and attentive to our every need. I'd love to return.
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Kobie D.

Yelp
I've stayed in many hotels in Melbourne and this one is certainly up there as one of the best. The artwork is fantastic, I love the bright vibe around the hotel. The rooms are super stylish, clean and equipped with a super awesome mini bar and the best bathroom toiletries I have ever come across at a hotel. The staff are lovely and not in your face. The location is perfect, right next to Chapel street. I can't rave on enough about the ridiculously comfortable bed we slept in. I would recommend this place to stay in a mili second. Definite thumbs up from me.
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Tresna L.

Yelp
Even though I live in Melbourne, I've had reason to visit The Cullen on many occasion. Friends and colleagues stay here regularly, and parties held in the penthouse are always fun. What's so great about it? - The mini bar is really well put together. They have chocolate coated old school lollies like strawberries and cream, pineapples and choc babies. The booze selection is great and the tea selection is varied and interesting. - The beds and linen are super comfy. - The robes are soft and you'll never want to take them off. - The toiletries are divine. Steal them. - Staff are super helpful and there's none of the fussy/stuffy attitudes that you get with big hotels. - With loads of shops, cafes and restaruants nearby (including the market over the road) it's really well placed for leisure.
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Steve M.

Yelp
Dropped in for a quick drink with work colleagues. Beer selection is quite good. Some colleagues had the $5 wines, both said they wouldn't get again as didn't taste that good. Guys behind the counter were friendly enough. Loved that there was a powerpoint to use to charge phone. Would love to see some hooks under the table with stool to hang bags.
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Laura N.

Yelp
Hip and arty, this hotel is soaking, seeping and splashing around in cool factor. Luckily, all that cool the Cullen is swimming in didn't drown out the all important aspects of what actually makes a great hotel room - this one ticked all the boxes with a super comfortable bed, great shower and bath products, comfortable towels, a well stocked mini-kitchen complete with hobs and a sink, and a massive flat screen tv. (Channel selection untested... ) The mini bar vitamins were a bit of a fun touch. The lack of free wifi did put a dent in the star rating, but if you're willing to cough up $9.95/day for wireless, the speed was great enough for me to have an uninterrupted Skype video chat with London and the login exceptionally easy. A bit off the beaten CBD path, but Prahran is back b*tches, so get on it. (I actually have no idea what that means. But I did find the area completely charming. The fact that it was next door to Market Lane Coffee helped immensely.)
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Leisha T.

Yelp
Writing this review from the perspective of an album launch in the penthouse suite. The location itself is very easy to get to. We headed straight up to the penthouse suite and the views were pretty awesome. Could see right out over Melbourne, and had quite a lot of space out on the balcony. Would definately come back to check this arthouse series hotel out. The cow in the foyer was rad!!!
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Jay K.

Yelp
A fresh spring morning 7am hopping off the plane, jetting off to my hotel to drop my bags off as it's too early to check in, I was surprised by amazing service getting offered an early check-in. I was also showered with the utmost respect and service whilst checking in by Nathan. The hotel itself is probably the most "quirkiest" out of the three of the Art Series which I actually enjoyed! I stayed on the 5th floor. Being a frequent visitor in Melbourne and always on the go, I look for pure comfort and style and this is what The Cullen ( Art Series Hotels) have accomplished by having their own branded beds, linen and pillows!!! I have never loved sleeping on a hotel bed more than in these hotels! I was greeted every single time leaving and coming back into the hotel with friendly and warm smiles! It sounds so simple, but it does so much. It's location is excellent as it's right next to Chapel Street and the vibe is pretty good too! Room service was fast which was great and I would certainly be returning! Thanks for making my stay a more than great one!
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Mel P.

Yelp
I just had the most solid night's sleep in memory. From the second I hit that pillow to the moment my phone went off and scared the bageebuzz out of me, I was out. These beds are SO SO SO comfy. Must have. Apparently this is a common occurrence, so it's lucky that you can actually buy the beds from here. My partner works in hotels (disclaimer: currently this group so I won't comment on anything but amenities to avoid any nepotism) so we stay around the place quite a bit. The stay here was so immensely enjoyable and I think I really underestimated the kind of impact the artwork would have on how I felt about the place. The Art Series has soul. The kind of soul you don't often get from a hotel. With HuTong downstairs (DUMPLINGS!) and the Prahran Market across the road (Market Lane coffee), this is a great spot for a stay in Melbourne out of the CBD...and I'm buying one of those beds!
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Mem R.

Yelp
A stay at the Cullen was a birthday present to myself on my last most recent visit to Melbourne in early January. I'd been wanting to stay at one of the Art Series Hotels since I'd first heard of them, and the Cullen is the perfect spot to pull up stumps when you want to explore Chapel Street and surrounds. I mentioned my birthday when booking (just in case, you know?) and the payoff was worth it, in the form of an upgrade to a street art suite (Smokey Mills) and a lovely little welcome gift. The room was stunning, the bed was insanely comfortable, and the bath had a spa setting, so after I'd spent a good fifteen minutes checking out every corner of the suite, I decided I never wanted to leave. The Cullen has a bunch of awesome pluses: as a guest, you can hire a bicycle or a smart car to zip around. When they're not in use, they're stationed out the front of the hotel, basically doing jazz hands at you every time you walk past them. "USE US!", they cry. One day in particular would have been perfect for bike riding, but sadly when I enquired about them, they were out of action. Display purposes only. Well, Cullen, now you're just rubbing my face in it. Ouch! The in-room wi-fi is cheap compared to a lot of hotels in the area (come on Australia, isn't it standard free hotel wi-fi time yet?) and I highly recommend becoming a Priority Guest Rewards member for an even further discount and other bonus things. Also, it's easy not to trust the decency of a lot of hotel restaurants, but Gramercy Bistro goes above and beyond the standard "hotel restaurant" call. Well worth visiting.
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Bel J.

Yelp
Upon entering you can tell immediately this is part of The Art Series Hotel Group. Original paintings and prints inspired by Adam Cullen are scattered across each floor and every room. This place is a party for your eyes. I loved it. My room was huge and my bed was super comfy. I had a few showers with Ned Kelly. Great tea selection, modern appliances and awesome salon downstairs :) I tried to blowdry my hair in the room but the hair dryer overheated. They brought me another one and it happened again. Then it happened again. And again. In Prahran so great for shopping and close to restaurants. I'll be back soon with my hair dryer!
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Briony C.

Yelp
I can't fault this hotel. The bed was comfortable, the room was silent as well as being huge. The fact it comes with a kitchen meant we were able to cook in the room one night, taking advantage of Prahran Market over the road (if you're interested, we got two chicken breasts, two portions of fresh linguine and a tomato sauce all of which we were able to cook with just one fry pan and a saucepan). The staff were super friendly and helpful. I dream of staying here again when visit Melbourne next time.

Matt A.

Yelp
Recently, I was lucky enough to win a free night in one of the Cullen's studio sweets. I'm a big fan of staying at hotels in general, but this place is next level. It's the perfect mix of flashy and comfortable. And with Adam Cullen's artwork showcased all over the hotel, including original pieces in each room, there's a real sense of exclusivity to the place that isn't reflected in the pricing. My room was super plush, with all of the trimmings that you would hope for (including a big flat screen TV, wifi, king-size bed, and a view of the city). The bed, particularly, was insanely comfortable - like sleeping on a big white cloud. The only questionable design element was the frosted glass wall that separates the bathroom and shower from the open plan bedroom/lounge/kitchen. From the photos on the website, I'm pretty sure that's a design element that's only in the studio sweets, so I'd imaging the other rooms have actual walls. I don't think anyone wants to be seen, even in frosted silhouette form, in the toilet. Or maybe that's sexy now? In any case, the entire experience was fun and relaxing and I'd definitely recommend the place if you're planning on booking a stay in the area in the future.
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Dee S.

Yelp
Absolutely love the position of this hotel - it is smack bang opposite the Prahran Markets. There are heaps of places to discover around and about this Hotel. You can experience the rattle of the trams, multi-cultural Melbourne at its best and explore the smaller streets for boutique fashion labels. Don't miss Greville Street. Train, Tram, Bus and Taxi services can wisk you to the Melbourne CBD, Richmond or anywhere else very quickly - this is a highly serviced area. Prahran has not changed much over the years and you can be comfortable and feel safe when walking home from some of the excellent eating houses that are just everywhere! Walk on down, or jump the tram and you can explore South Yarra, Toorak & Richmond. This hotel is my favourite spot to stay when in Melbourne. I have to take a point off for the sometimes poor service at both reception and in the restaurant. Hint... don't worry about it (poor service) - do your own thing and eat out - the opportunities for unique and authentic cuisine in the area abound. Don't forget to try the African Tea from the wonderful little african stall in the Prahran Market.... get fresh cheeses, dips and gourmet offerings to take home and share. The rooms at the Cullen are really fabulous, you might have to turn a blind eye to the art if you do not relish blood... I can do that, because of the position of the hotel - but felt I had to explain the art concept to guests I had stay with me there recently. They were doing quite a bit of freaking out over the subject matter.
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Lien T.

Yelp
Good location, clean and spacious room with a funky decor. Within walking distance to shops (chapel st), restaurants and bars. Would definitely stay here again
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Leah B.

Yelp
The Cullen is a lovely, modern, boutique hotel. Very comfy beds, huge room with a kitchenette and a good shower! Art Series hotels don't disappoint and this one is no exception. Excellent spot - you can wander to Prahran market and it is less than 5 mins walk to Chapel St - so easy access to restaurants, cafes, shopping & bars. Only disappointments were that Wifi was not included and my room service tray wasn't removed from my room all day (was from breakfast - forgot to put it outside). Tops hotel overall and would love to stay again; highly recommend. Stayed October 2014, travelled on business.
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Heather E.

Yelp
Plush room with great linens, well-appointed bath, and even a fully-kitted-out kitchenette, complete with pots, pans, dishes, refrigerator, two-burner stove, sink, and dishwasher. I had not planned to self-cater but ended up using it with some groceries from the Prahran Market across the street. Gym on the sixth floor is minimal - a couple of treadmills, an elliptical, a bike, and some free weights. I had hoped for something a little bigger. But it had flloor-to-ceiling windows that opened onto a deck for some city views and fresh air. Wireless requires a fee, which I hope all hotels will abandon in the near future. $9.95 per day, or (if you're just checking email before going off for the day in the city) $3 for one hour. The art, by Adam Cullen, is pretty amazing and is everywhere in the hotel. Sadly, my favorite painting (of Ned Kelly, hanging in one of the elevators) is not one of the ones they offer for purchase as a print. Though I think even the prints are out of my price range. If you stay at the Cullen, make sure to visit Greville Street (left out of the hotel door onto Grattan, two or so blocks down to Greville) - charming shops and some good cafes. Getting into the city center is easy - 72 tram toward Melbourne U going in, 72 tram toward Camberwell coming back.
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Steve L.

Yelp
This was recommended by a colleague and I'm quite pleased with the hotel and its staff. It's a very cool and progressive place to stay. The decor is very modern and the accommodations are very nice. The location is pretty good and as noted in other reviews, the beds are amazing. The staff has been very friendly and accommodating - overall I'd highly recommend to others.

Kenneth M.

Yelp
This is a top notch hotel. Love the fitness center. Staff were very nice and professional. Definitely would stay here again.
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Ron E.

Yelp
Stayed for 1 night, lovely boutique hotel. Rooms really nice! Great Location! Super comfy bed and very friendly staff!! Nice breakfast options available downstairs also!
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Martin L.

Yelp
Ugh. Reserved 2 nights in one of their penthouses. Feeling disappointed. First of all, I can't believe they charge for wifi access despite the cost for the room itself. Also every time the door closes in the room behind my bedroom, my headboard shakes violently. Last night, the folks who stayed next door partied all night and I heard everything. Walls seem paper thin.
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Howard H.

Yelp
This is a great hotel in a slightly less traveled (by tourists and business people) part of Melbourne. Of course, some of your more parochial Melburnians simply do not travel south of the Yarra. Full stop. Nice rooms with extra touches of both comfort and design to satisfy the needs of the long and short term traveler. Service was top drawer as well, with the exception of knowledge of the local area - many questions requiring specific local knowledge required internet lookup and/or apologies. The coffee from the on-site cafe is available in a handy take away window and is up to the exceedingly high general Melbourne standard. Breakfast in the cafe was very good but also rather expensive for the neighbourhood. A short walk over to the local market is always an excellent dining alternative and the rooms are set up for a bit of in-room storage and food prep if desired. If you can get this hotel at a reasonable discount and are prepared to use public transport I think you'll be quite pleased.

Keely F.

Yelp
The cheeseburger was exquisite!!! Perfectly grilled beef, a great choice of cheeses and a suitable stack.